Bihar: Flood scene still grim, toll mounts to 78

PATNA: The flood toll in state touched 78 on Thursday with the disaster management department (DMD) confirming 11 more deaths.
According to DMD, 18 people have so far died in Sitamarhi, 14 in Madhubani, 12 in Araria, nine each in Sheohar and Darbhanga, seven in Purnia, four in Kishanganj, three in Supaul and two in East Champaran.
The number of people affected by floods also increased from 46,83,639 on Wednesday to 55,40,426 on Thursday.
Flood situation continued to remain grim in north Bihar as the swollen Bagmati and Burhi Gandak rivers showed rising trend at some places in Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Khagaria districts.
The two rivers have wreaked havoc in tens of hundreds of villages in north Bihar following torrential rainfall in Nepal and foothills of Himalayas from July 11 to 14.
Five rivers – the Bagmati, the Kamala Balan, the Lalbakeya, the Khiroi and the Mahananda – were flowing above danger level at 12 different flood gauges in north Bihar districts on the third consecutive day on Thursday. However, no fresh breach was reported on any embankment in the state on Thursday.
A senior DMD official said the water level is now receding at majority of the places. “Though the water is entering more areas, the rivers are showing receding trend at most flood-affected places. Apart from continuing the rescue and relief operations, we are now also focusing on restoration measures along with steps for ensuring sound health of affected people,” DMD principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit told TOI on Thursday evening.
Asked about surge in death toll from 33 on Tuesday to 67 on Wednesday and further to 78 on Thursday, Pratyaya said, “As the water level is receding, the rescue teams are reaching more flood-affected areas and confirming fresh deaths.”
Amrit said a detailed review of the prevailing scenario would be conducted in the weekly meeting of the crisis management group (CMG) of the state government on Friday. The meeting will be chaired by chief secretary.
Meanwhile, CM Nitish Kumar will release the first instalment of Rs 6,000 compensation to each flood-affected family on Friday. DMD principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit said the compensation amount will be released through direct benefit transfer (DBT) system.
“A survey was earlier conducted in the flood-prone areas and we are in a position to know the number of families affected by the floods.